Form clamp



Sept. 3, 1929. Q B BOSCO 1,726,976

FORM CLAMP Filed May 12, 1928 Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

GEORGE B. BOSCO, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FORM CLAMP.

Application filed May 12, 1928.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of clamp especially suitable for temporarily securing together the soliit and Wall sections of a beam mold; to provide a form clamp having improved means for supporting the mold sections; to provide improved adjustable means for clamping the wall sections to the soiit; and to provide a form clamp for beam molds which may be accurately and quickly set up by even unskilled labor.

An illustrative embodimentof this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a transverse section of a beam mold having an improved clamp applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the clamp, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of one of the cleats.

Fig. 5 is a perspective, partly broken away, showingthe rail and one of the cleats.

In concrete construction systems, forms used in the building of joists, beams and girders are generally known as beam molds.

In the embodiment herein illustrated, the improved clamp is applied to a beam mold comprisingthe usual soiiit 1 and side sections 2 which are built around a steel I- beam 3.

The soflit member 1 usually comprises a board which is spaced from the bottom of the beam by spacers 4 and which is provided with apertures 5 for receiving a tie band 6.

'Ihe band 6 is looped around the top of the I-beam and its ends are secured to suitable collars or bearing members 7, which sup port the improved form clamp and mold.

The improved form clamp comprises a rail 8 adapted to provide a supporting shelf for the mold sections and having mounted thereon a'pair of cleats 9, which are adapted to secure the side walls 2 to the soflit 1 and which are shiftable longitudinally of the rail 8 by means of wedges 10.

The rail 8 preferably comprises a pair of angle bars 11 arranged in substantially parallel spaced relation. Spacer blocks 12 are arranged between the bars 11 adjacent the ends thereof and are secured thereto by suitable bolts 13.

Serial N0. 277,192.

The opening between the spacer blocks 12 provides a guideway 14 in which the cleats 9 are slidable.

' Formed in the depending flanges of the angle bars 11, are slots or keyways 15 for receiving the wedges 10. The slots 15 of one of the angle bars 11 are alined with those of the other bar so as to permit the wedges 10 to extend transversely through the guideway 14 for engagement with the cleats.

The improved cleats 9 are preferably metal castings. Each of the cleats 9 comprises a head 16 and a pair of bearing flanges 17 integrally formed on a shank 18.

The head 16 has a shoulder 19 adapted to abut against a side wall 2 for clamping the wall against the softit 1. Formed on the shoulder 19, is a ridge 20 adapted to bite into the mold section 2.

The bearing flanges 17 are arranged in substantially parallel spaced relation so as to slidably engage the upper and lower edges of the angle bars 11.

The shank 18 is located in the guideway 14 and is shiftable longitudinally of the angle bars 11 to permit adjustment of the cleat. Formed in the shank 18, is a longitudinally extending slot 21 adapted to receive the wedge 10, for forcing the cleat into gripping engagement with the mold section 2.

The slot 21 is considerably longer than one of the slots 15 so that a portion thereof is always alined with at least one of the slots 15.

A shoulder 22 at one end of the slot 21 is adapted to engage the wedge for forcing the cleat inwardly into engagement with the mold. A shoulder 23 at the opposite end of the slot 21 is adapted for engagement with the wedge for moving the cleat away from the mold in the event that it cannot be released by hand without applying force.

In operation, the soliit 1 and rail 8 are suspended from the I-beam 3 by the tie band 6, and the side walls 2 are then placed on the rail 8 on respectively opposite sides of the soflit.

The cleats 8 are then shifted inwardly to engage the outer faces of the wall sections 2. The wedges 10 are then inserted through certain of the slots 15and 21 to engage the shoulders 22 for positively driving the cleats inwardly to firmly grip the Walls 2 and to force them into firm contact with the solit.

In the event that the cleat is located so that the Wedge 10 cannot effectively engage the shoulder 22, the Wedge may loe inserted in another of the apertures 15 for engaging a bearing face 24 on the outer extremity of the cleat.

To dismantle the mold, the collars 7 are removed and the Wedges 10 are Withdrawn, so as to permit the entire clamp to be removed from the mold. If necessary, the Wedges 10 may be driven through certain of the slots 15 and 21 `for engagement With the shoulders 23 to release the cleats.

It is to be understood that certain details of construction herein shown and described may be altered Without departing Jfrom the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

A form clamp comprising a rail adapted to support a beam mold and having a longitudinally extending guidevvay therein, a pair of cleats supported on said rail, each of said cleats comprising a shank slidalole in said guideivay, a head on said shank located in position to engage a side of the mold, a pair of spaced flanges on said shank arranged to engage respectively opposite sides or" the rail, and a pair of Wedges on said rail adapted to project through the shanks of said cleats for positively moving said cleats longitudinally of said rail.

Signed at Chicago this 9th day of May, 1928.

GEORGE s. Bosco. 

